Poggio Bustone: Scenery, History and Festivals
Accommodation in Poggio Bustone
Poggio Bustone lies on the slopes of Monte Rosato at an altitude of about 750 metres, overlooking the Valle Santa. Its elevation and views across the valley shape the surrounding landscape; historic architectural features and recurring festivals add to the character of the town.
Townscape and Culture
The medieval centre is laid out on terraces. Narrow, rustic streets, steep lanes and stairways define the townscape; the stairways lead into mountain paths. The centre includes Porta del Buongiorno to the west and Porta della Torre to the east. The two gates provide clear points of reference for the western and eastern sides of the centre.
The parish church of San Giovanni Battista in Poggio Bustone contains a 15th-century fresco depicting Saint Francis receiving the stigmata. The church also preserves relics of the martyr Saint Felice. The fresco and relics bring a datable work of art and the veneration of the martyr together in the same place of worship.
The Parco Comunale “Giardini di Marzo” is a green space with a bronze statue commemorating Lucio Battisti and his songs. From there, the view extends across the entire Rieti Valley. The view from the park therefore differs from the town’s outlook over the Valle Santa.
Landscape and Trails
A panoramic road runs along the southern slope of Monte Rosato, leading to launch sites for paragliding and hang gliding. The two main launch sites are accessible by car. A centuries-old oak and beech forest lies along the road; wild edible mushrooms and truffles are also part of this landscape.
The Cammino di Francesco is 80 kilometres long and comprises eight stages. The route can be travelled on foot, by mountain bike, on horseback or by car. The total distance and number of stages indicate the scale of the route; the ways of getting around extend beyond hiking.
The first stage of the Cammino di San Francesco takes about seven hours and is rated as challenging. If you are planning this stage, you can take both the approximate duration and the difficulty rating into account.
Festivals and Regional Cuisine
Every year on 15 August, the mountain festival is held in LocalitĂ Prati di S. Giacomo at an altitude of about 1,200 metres. The programme includes grilled meat and sausages. The venue is therefore higher than Poggio Bustone, which lies at about 750 metres.
At the festival on 4 October, residents greet one another each year with “Buon Giorno Buona Gente” and celebrate in honour of Saint Francis. The Sagra della Porchetta IGP has been held since 1950 on the first Sunday in October; the programme includes live music and parades in historical costumes. The dates refer to different ways of specifying when events take place: a fixed calendar date and a date defined by the day of the week. If an event date is important to your trip, check the exact date in advance.
The traditional porchetta recipe from Poggio Bustone is passed down from generation to generation. It uses ground pepper, garlic, rosemary and salt.
Discover more destinations: Apoleggia, Accumoli, Vacone, Selci, Forano, Castel San Pietro, Poggio Vittiano, Cittaducale.
Go to the main travel overview: Rieti.
